Amid the tall pines and banks of the AuSable River, Gerald Crawford, or Gerry as he likes to be called, dedicates some of his energy to honoring the law enforcement and first responder community that has impacted his life in many ways. He is working to make a meaningful difference and creating a legacy for himself and his late wife, Marlynne. Through two funds established at the North Central Michigan Community Foundation, he is seeing their philanthropic efforts in action now, and ensuring their favorite causes are cared for long into the future.
“Marlynne and I both had family members and close friends who retired from police service. We chose to leave our estate to support first responders who have needs that most people would not understand, and to support people who want to make police service their career,” says Gerry, whose deep appreciation for emergency responders is rooted in the support they have provided to him. “As a child, I was made aware of firefighters helping my grandparents' neighbors when their house caught fire; and again, when the neighbors needed a first responder for a medical emergency. The neighbors had to run down the road to my aunt and uncle's house to use the phone to summon first responders."
Gerry spent his career leading information technology departments, while Marlynne, who passed away in January 2025, was a teacher in southeast Michigan. After retirement, they moved to northern Michigan in 1996 and built a home in Luzerne to enjoy the backwoods and nature. They immediately got involved in their community, volunteering much of their time at a local nursing home – Gerry played the piano and Marlynne coordinated fun activities for the residents; and they participated in first responder memorials in Grayling and Traverse City.
In 2019, Kirk Wakefield, Crawford County’s long-time Sheriff and schoolmate of Gerry’s, passed away unexpectedly shortly after retiring. Having recently become aware of the Community Foundation, Gerry saw the opportunity for himself and Marlynne to memorialize their friend and give back financially, and they did so by establishing the Sheriff Kirk Alan Wakefield Memorial Scholarship Fund.
“I thought this was a good way to encourage people to join law enforcement, building up some of the manpower locally,” says Gerry. The fund provides scholarships for individuals from Crawford, Kalkaska, Montmorency, Ogemaw, or Roscommon Counties who will study in the Criminal Justice Program or Kirtland Regional Police Academy at Kirtland Community College.
In 2021, while caring for Marlynne, who was in the early stages of dementia, Gerry suffered a stroke. The first responders from Grayling not only helped him in an emergency; they became his support group, even doing his grocery shopping every couple of weeks. When he suffered another medical emergency, it was police officers who arrived to help him to the hospital.
It wasn’t long before Gerry recognized another need in his community and an opportunity to pay it forward: local officers needed more resources to help them better serve the community. He personally purchased heat-seeking drones for the department’s search-and-rescue operations, and then he and Marlynne established the Friends of Crawford County Sheriff’s Office Fund – an endowed fund that ensures perpetual funding to meet the Sheriff Department’s needs.
The Crawfords have arranged to have their estate support the two funds they established, making them members of the Community Foundation’s Legacy Society.
“With both Marlynne and I having deep respect for first responders and law enforcement, leaving our estate to these two funds is a good fit,” says Gerry. “We didn’t have any offspring, so leaving it to NCMCF was a no-brainer.”
Gerry says his hope for these two funds is that cadets who want to enter law enforcement as a career can be provided with peace of mind having some of their expenses covered; and that the local police department can purchase unbudgeted equipment and supplies they need without worrying about how to pay for it.
About the decision to give so he can see the gift in action now, and know these causes will be supported in the future?
“The joy of giving isn’t just in what we contribute—it’s in knowing that we’ve helped create something that will last,” says Gerry. “But this legacy is about more than financial support—it is about building a foundation of integrity, service, and a deep commitment to the well-being of our community. Each of us has the power to make a difference. When we give, we don’t just change lives—we shape the future. Whether it’s supporting a cause, lending a helping hand, or simply leading with kindness, every effort matters.”
Photos: Gerald and Marlynne Crawford; Gerry donated a memorial plaque and flagpole for display in front of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office in Sheriff Wakefield’s memory, and built the plaque’s frame.